Netherlands loses ‘AAA’ rating, S&P downgrades to ‘AA+’

THE HAGUE: The Netherlands on Friday lost its coveted “AAA” rating as Standard & Poor’s agency downgraded the country’s rating to “AA+,” citing weakening growth prospects. “The downgrade reflects our opinion that the Netherlands’ growth prospects are now weaker than we had previously anticipated,” S&P wrote in a statement. Only 10 countries worldwide, including seven in Europe, now retain the holy-grail AAA rating from the world’s three major ratings agencies, Standard & Poors, Fitch and Moody’s.
AFP